Local and General.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3655, 16 October 1912, Page 4

Local and General.

Mr.il- for Auckland (via main trunk) and the South Mill be despatched per "Wimmera at 6 p.m. to-dav and for Auckland and Tokomaru Bay per Monowai, at 7.30 p.m. Mr M. Hale, on behalf of die Oi l Settlers’ Association,* asked the Council last evening to proclaim a tid'd - y on Thursday. November 7, as from 11 a.m. to enable the townspeople to attend the Old Settlers’ picnic. The Connc.il decided to declare a holiday from noon.

The W.C.T.TI. gold medal for the best essay on “Self Control,” by members of Bands of Hope, was won !>v Jean Porter, of the St. Andrew’s Band. A second prize, presented by Mrs J. East, has been won by Mabel Brookes, Mangapapa, Vivian Francis, aged 10 years, St. Andrew’s, taking third prize.

The Borough Engineer reported at last evening’s meeting of the Council that an application had been made by Mr. W. Miller on behalf of the licensees of His Majesty’s Theatre for a concession under the seating and passage way by-laws 246 and 2-IS. The present building was one foot too narrow to permit of the passage-ways 4ft. wide, together with two rows of seats of 13 in a row. It was proposed to make one of these passages 3ft. wide, and terminate all the passages running-back .from the stage on to an extra passage 4ft. wide, running right across the Theatre behind the eleventh row of seats. This concession was temporary, inasfar as it was proposed within the near future to make considerable structural alterations to the whole building. He therefore recommended that permission he granted for the proposed arrangement of seats and passages. The report was adopted.

The Public Trust Offr.e forwxr'ei last evening a statement for the information of the Council to the Nicolas Children's Trust I-arid. «sJ’ho resumption of work on the tramway line in Gladstone Road look plaoev esterday. It is intended to prosecute the work from both ends. -The Poverty Bay Turf Club asked the Borough Council last evening to deelare.Tliursdav, October 24 a public holiday from noon as it was the first day of their spring meeting. J his was agreed to. The Premier informed the House yestordav that he had forwarded a cable to*Hobart expressing sympathy in connection with the niiue disastei at Alt. Lyell.—F A.

Air Win. Tier applied to the Council last evening for a master plumber’s certificate. This was declined until the applicant had passed the examination of the Board oi Control. Following'upon a scuffle in a restaurant host evening; a man was arrested in the street on a charge of drunkenness and will appear at tuc Court this morning.

Darin o- September there were 239 cattle. 1430 sheep, 142 pigs, 43 lambs and 2 calves slaughtered for consumption within the Gisborne abattoir area as against 110 cattle, 1224 sheep. 120 pigs, '2 lambs and 1 calt ior torcorresponding month last year. Application was made by Af< ts J. R Redstone and Sons to the Council last night to extend the time ror alterations to their livery stain -s until after the show and races were over. It was decided to extend the tune til! November 1-

The Straker waggon and the* truck came off the tramway line at the Grey Street points vesterday and were Replaced only after .a considerable amount of trouble. A man nameu Frost sustained a painful injury t - the side of his face through the .slipping of a Mack.” Alessrs Chapman, Skerrett, __ Uylie .and Tripp, solicitors, forwarded to the Council last- evening the following documents which they required to b-_> signed in connection _ with the loans • (1) Resolution making special rate; ’ (2) debenture and coupon: (y ) resolutions to be passed by Council: (4) declaration of the Town Clerk; (5) deed of covenant. The request was complied with and Cr. Bright with the Alayor was appointed to sign We documents.

Cr. C. H. AVilliams intends moving at the Cook County Council m=wt;r g on Friday in the direction of hu/r.e a sum of money set aside annually :« r the purpose of conducting ex :> i *iments in permanent road construction, with the object or ascertain :ig whether it is possible to secure scam more economical ami permanent system than obtains at present.

At the Arbitrate n Court next week, a compensation claim ior ~500 will be made bv William Henry Burton (Air H. J.‘ Finn) against Alessrs Nelson Bros. (Air H. B. Lusk, of .\a : pier), in connection with the death of claimant’s father, who was killed by a quarter of beef falling on him while working one of the Home steamers in the bay.

AVhen the resolution passed at tin* meeting at the Sievwriglit Alemoria* on Saturday night—re cessation of the railway works at Napier —was before the Council last night the Alayor sa;d they would like to see this work pus ied on. but it would be better to v. ait until the Public AVorks Statement came down. If there was a prospect of the work not being carried on then the Council and the Chamber of Commerce could - take combined action. Cr. AVebb said that he felt very strongly on the matter, and if there was any prospect- of the work being discontinued the Alayor should call a public meeting. The matter was allowed to stand over in the meantime.

i Tlie decision of the committee of ! the Turanganui Public Library Com- ; mit tee to -establish a juvenile sect Mi ■ will be warmly appreciated by o~r- ! ents. It will be open to all boys ar.-i j girls under 16 years of age, and at. a ■ nominal subscription of Is --or yea. | A supply of suitable literature will be | procured and placed on shelves sep.- ! rate from the rest of the library. i?u’j scribers will be entitled to take o.ic one | of these books at a time, but will not j he allowed to take out of the gene* | ral library.

| Mr V. <?. Short, Assistant undi-j- ---\ Secretary for Public V orks, comm ; ~- ' cated with "the Council last evening le electric tramway rolling stock ■‘■lnc In* I wag directed by the Minister i-> call ■ the' Council’s attention to Section 11 I of the Tramways Amendment Act i°il ! which prescribed that all new iram--1 way carriages licensed after the pas--5 ing of that Act except those us? 1 on j cable tramways had to be constructed ! with an aisle or passage way through j the portion of the carriage set apart i for passengers. He asked the Counj -41 to be good enough to forward to j the Public" Works Office for approval i drawings showing the aisle or passagei way through any cars constructed and j in operation after ,-January 1, 1912. ! and to lie constructed from now on so as to comply with the provisions or • the above Act. The Council decided the plans of the new* cars should be forwarded to the Department.

To the Borough Council last night Mr R. U. Burke complained of whathe termed the extremely careless driving of a carrier. Mrs Burke and Mrs R. J. Reynolds were, he said, sitting in a gig at the Masonic corner buying fish from a fish cart, the gig being stationary. It so happened that a large hooded cart owned and driven bythe carrier came round the corner at a walking pace, and although the driver was warned by passers by and the fish hawker when some little distance away, crashed into the gig. Even then, continued Mr Burke, he did not stop, but proceeded on with the wheels locked, carrying the gig with him and- it- was . only the promptness of the fish hawker that prevented the gig from being overturned and the occupants probablv severely injured. It was decided to send a copy of the letter to the carrier.

Local interest is now all on the coming show week. This year an exceptional number of visitors are expected. Are you ready for them is a question to every householder, but especially to the hotel and boardinghouse keepers. A big lot of Sheeting. Towels, Quilts and Household Linen of alt kinds at sneciallv Jow prices, just unpacked at Melbourne Cash.*

The man who does the most talking doesn’t necessarily have the most enthusiastic listener's. The business men who make the strongest claims are not necessarily fire leaders in their lines The reason the People’s Emporium have so many hundreds of thoroughly satisfied customers is because it backs up its claims to Ire ‘unquestioc-. ably the cheapest house in town.* j.

In reply to CT. Collins last evening as to how much rubble was being used in street formation tbs flavor said that none was now being brought in.

The bookings for the forthcoming production of ‘•'The Geisha” opencil yesterday and phenomenally good business is already recorded, practically ensuring a,successful season.

The two powerful centrifugal pumps are being fitted into the engine room of the Star of Canada, and Mr. Langlands hopes to lie able to make a start with the pumping on Friday or Saturday.

The Mayor stated at a meeting of the Council last evening that mey might call tenders for leasing the new cemetery site which would bring in some revenue between now and the time it was required. The matter was referred to the "Reserves Committee., Regarding the tramways Cr. Webb said that he wanted to see the tramway pushed on to Orjyiond Road in three weeks. The Mayor said in reply to Cr. Collins that the Engineer could nob report any portion as yet completely finished. It was stated in the Finance committee’s report last night that the borough solicitors were consulted in ii.v matter of the ease Hillman v. Borough Council when it was arranged that trieCouncil should deposit £2OO and appeal against the decision of the Magistrate's Court.

Mr R. T. Sadd is concerned regarding the amount of burr clover which he met with on his drive to Ngatapa yesterday. The weed is a great nuisance and should he got rid of. rso animal is at alt partial to the burr clover and it therefore flourishes. The best method of stamping out the weed was to break it up consistently. The many friends of Mr W. D. Lysimr, ex-Alayor of the town, will he gratified to learn that he is now enjoying greatly improved health. "When I saw Mr Lvsnar just before 1 left England.” Mr Shelton told a "Times” representative, “he appeared to be just as good as ever he was.” Mrs Lvsnar and Miss Lysnar were also in the host of health. They will be returning to New Zealand shortly.

At the creek near Ivaraka yards yesterday the Commissioner of Crown Lands secured three samples of metal. two pieces of limestone and one of sandstone, which he believed would he of great use as foundation material For the unkempt roads nearby. He will have the metal tested in Wellington. Air Sadd's idea - is that, -if the stone were placed on the road in Welders it would make a. solid and lasting foundation. In the matter of the proposed exchange of land between the Harbor Board and the Borough Council it has been decided by the Council that'as it is too late to get a private Bill through this session an agreement should be drawn up between the Council and the Harbor Board confirming the ararngemont already entered into between the two parties and then in all probability some arrangement will be made with the Fire Board whereby they could commence their new building.

Inquiries made by Air TL T. Sadd, Commissioner of Crown Lands, during bis visit to Patutalii and Ngatapa yesterday elicited the information, he told a “Times” reporter, that the lambing season had been unusually prolific- in these districts. , The general average could be put down at from 90 to 100 psr cent., while; the century was topped by more than one settler. The country was looking in great heart and there was ’every prospect of a bountiful season.

Cr. "Wildish drew the attention of the Borougli Council last evening to clie dangerous state of the footpath in front of Messrs Williams and Kettle's office. It was far too steep and should have a culvert across it. The Mayor said the Engineer would look into the matter. C'r. Hepburn also thought attention should be given to the northern footpath in Gladstone Road between Carnarvon Street and Roebuck Road. Cr. Sawyer said he could substantiate Cr. Hepburn’s remarks. He beard a. man say that this footpath was so bad that he would not bike along it.

Speaking to a "Times" reporter last night Mr F. -J. Shelton said he was delighted to see that a River Board had at last been formed. It was. he said, some 20 years ago since he called a public meeting to discuss the matter of river improvements. A report was at the time obtained from Mr Napier Bell, C.E.. and his plan was very similar to that which had now been submitted by”Mr Kennedy, C.E. 'loo much importance could not be attached to the proposed works and he trusted that they would soon become an accomplished fart. 'The Borough Engineer's report to

the Council last night stated jthat the , quarry still continued to do good work, and a large quantity of metal bad been crushed. The amount of material hauled to town for the fortnight ■was : Metal 649 J yards, screenings IOS yards, gravel 19 j yards. The Coolc County Council had bad 21 yards at Niven’s Siding and 12 yards at Matawliero. while a quantity of rubble and screenings had been used for ballasting Dawson’s loop on the Patutahi Road. The yard milage for the fortnight was 9417. Nos. 1 and 2 locomotives had Been inspected by the Government Inspector during the fortnight and had been found satisfactory and in good condition. The Straker wagon,, altered to suit-the quarry line’ guage, was put into commission during the fortnight, and under good conditions had been able to run two trips per day, hauling 15 yards of metal each trip from Dawson’s siding. . The following forecast of works to be undertaken during the ensuing fortnight was made by the Borough Kngineer to the Council last evening : —Streets. —Ordinary maintenance .in Gladstone and Ormond lioads, forming and shingling Harris Street, shingling Carnarvon Street, kerbing and channelling HaiTis Street. Customhouse Street, Peel Street, S.W. arches Lowe Street, and formation in Norman Roach Sewerage Department.—Complete the stormwater culverts in AYainui and deLautonr Roads, and stormwater drains in Rnssell Street, * and .Sheehan Street. House connections and routine work. Waterworks.—Ordinary routine work and top-line loin, pipe track, and reservoir excavations. Electricity.—Mains in Upper Gladstone Road and general routine work. "Tramways.—Lifting loops and topdressing -tfrackis. _ Reserves.—General routine work on river bank, Botanical Hardens and Childers Road Reserve.

The Coronation Hotel is to be ecu siderably extended at an early date. The Council decided last evening that all rates now unpaid will be sued for. A daylight.parade of all Territorials will be held on Saturday, before .the O.C. District, Colonel Chaytor.

Air Re T. Sadd, Commissioner of Crown Lands, was at Ngatapa yestcr-' day and will inspect Air T Holden’s property at Waimata to-day Some leading matter dealing ’with the questions raised by Cr. Collins at the Borough Council meeting, correspondence, etc., have had to bo held over on account of pressure of space. A meeting of the Reserves Committee of the. Borough Council will he ■held on Friday morning at 11 o’clock. Cr. Collins has been added to the committee.

The Defence Bill was further considered in Committee by the House last evening. It was agreed that the discharge of prisoners should rest with the Alinister for Defence instead of the Commandant. The training of those detained is to be approved by the Alinister. (A proposal to make the age limit 21 instead of 25 was declined by the Alinister. The Bill was reported with amendments. —P.A.

The matter of increasing the plant at the power-house by the importation of another engine was considered by the Borough Council last evening. The Engineer’s recommendation that an order should he placed for a 150jt.p. engine and one set of spare parts, a generator and spares, and a switchhoard panel, was adopted, Cr. Collins dissenting. A report of the discussion is unavoidably held over.

In moving a motion that speeches be limited to 10 minutes, Cr. Smith, at the meeting last evening, said that lie did so after much consideration .and the discomfort he had endured. Councillors could easily say all they wished in 10 minutes. "Cr. Webb seconded the motion. Cr. Sawyer said he thought that they should get away at 11 o’clock every Council meeting. “If we were getting half-an-hour overtime,” he added, “it would not be so bad.” Crs Brown and Hepburn also supported the motion, which was carried-

Among the visitors to Gisborne at the present time is Air F. J. Shelton, the Home representative of the New Zealand Producers’ Association. He informed a “Times” reporter that he was well satisfied with the work that he has been able to accomplish in the Home Land. When the Port of London Authority resumed its sessions this month it would go further into the matter. Air Shelton returns to Wellington to-day. He will probably remain in the Empire City for the next two months. It has not been decided when he shall return to London.

Tarring the streets and footpaths and the use of tar macadam has proved so satisfactory,” says the Christchurch city surveyor in his annual report. "that I strongly advise the council to obtain as much tar as possible during the next year. There is no comparison in the advantage which a tar-bound road has over a waterhound one; maintenance is far easier and cheaper, and a patch of tarred material can always be applied as required. and the top kept in good condition ; also, the street is far cleaner and less dusty.

One .of the; occupiers of the Ngala pa settlement is Air. Kain, who was formerly a school teacher at Makotuku, and he is performing yeoman service on the settlement. Although busihvengaged in improving and working his section, Air. Kain has temporarily filled the position of school teacher, a permanent appointee not being available. Alorning and night, he lias to ride four or five miles to school, and three of his children accompany him. The school is attended by 29 children, and the district as a whole is under a debt- of gratitude to Air. Kain. Two of Air. Cowley’s children also ride several miles to and from school

There was a warm passage of arms between Cr. Bright and Cr. Collins at last night's meeting.cf the Borough Council. It will be seen that Cr. Collins suggested that Cr. Bright and the Town Clerk should look into some figures which lie had brought forward. Cr. Bright: .I haven’t time. Cr. Collins: It is a wonder you have time to come here. C'r. Bright: that is my business.' Cr. Collins: No doubt they will he able to get someone equally as competent as you are yourself if you object to it. The return is one the town would like to know. Cr. Bright :I am not taking it on- fam not checking statements •for you. Cr. Collins: It is more satisfactory for me if you don’t.

In a letter to the- Council last evening the Poverty Bay and East Coast Builders’, Contractors’ and General Laborers’ Union pointed out that a large number of general laborers were 'out of employment and there was evidently a good deal of municipal work to be ‘done. The easing oft of the railway work had thrown a gouo manv men out of work and things were bad‘all round. They wanted to knot if the Council "ould put any of .15 work in hand, now and so absorb a number of these men. The Mayor said that there were no works tney '.could put in hand, just now, but it o letter could be handed no to the J ngineer, who would, perhaps, be hoc to assist- the "men. Cr. "Wildish urgwl the necessity of the Council pushing on their road work. It was decided to refer, the matter to the Engineer.

A. petition was received at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council from residents in Palmerston Road asking the Council to re-consider tlicndecision to cut down the oak trees in that road. Cr. AVildish spoke m support of the petition, and said he would l)c very sorry to see the trees removed. He hoped the Council would comply with the request. Cr Hepburn pointed .out that the trees were planted 36 years •mo and lie supported the petition. Cr Bright said that the question was as to whether the trees were detrimental to the footpath, if so they would have to go, no matter what iherr sentiments might be. 'Hie Engineer said that to a certain extent the footpath would -be damaged. As long as they remained, there they could not get a standardised footpath. Cr. Collins wave notice to move at next meeting that the previous decision of the Council should he rescinded, and in consequence consideration was deterred.